An overdue post…

and I am so sorry for the delay.  Our last post was April 1st – and we are almost at the end of the month.  About two weeks into April our data was already gone, and we didn’t get more until this past Friday.  Here is our month of April overview.  Forgive me for sharing details from our day-to-day lives but lately it has been the little things that have made our day.

I figured out how to make monster cookies and homemade chicken noodle soup.  An accomplishment for me, since I have had to readjust to cooking…

I have had a hard time getting our whites really white with all of this sandy reddish soil (or maybe it’s because we have 4 boys).  So, now I boil our whites on the stove with soap and baking soda for 30 minutes and then wash them in the washing machine.  I have grown to LOVE hanging our clothes on the line and am amazed at how fast everything dries!!

We have had the opportunity to invite people over for dinner, which is such a treat.  I really love cooking and preparing food and sharing a meal with friends…unfortunately this is the only picture I snapped with our dinner guests.  This is Sydney and he has been around for as long as we have been coming here, and he works on the farm.  They boys loved showing him all of the things they have made with their magnets.

We were able to meet up with Dudu in Johannesburg.  She is doing well, and working at Waterstone College.  A blessing to reconnect with friends.

Rob managed to grill a huge amount of chicken over charcoal (which is something we have never done).  We made chicken fajita for some friends, complete with tortillas, mexican rice, and the fixings’ – it was yummy!!

The boys are in charge of keeping the pile of sand readily available for the workers.  Many things are made with sand, so Rob runs into town to get a load when the pile gets low, and the boys are shovel ready.

Often we have cows running right outside our door.  In fact, one morning I was hanging laundry and all of a sudden I looked up and a huge herd of cows were running towards me.  Not exactly at me, but the place they needed to be was fairly close to where I was, so I decided to go inside until the farm hands had them where they wanted them.

I remember being Austin’s age and having my mom teach me how to play solitaire, so I have taught the two older boys.  We play cards a lot at night.  With no tv and very little internet, it has been great family time together.  Our David Livingston book is done, and I ordered the rest of the set from YWAM.  We are looking forward to some new missionary stories.  We won’t get them until the 6-week trainees from Iowa arrive in June.

If Hudson isn’t playing war or uno with one of the boys he is begging us for an airplane ride.  I will take this airplane ride over the one we had coming here ANY day…

We found out that Esther was having a hard time doing homework in the evening with her kids, since she is without electricity.  We did some research and found these amazing lights that are charged with small solar panels.  One full charge will last her two evenings.  So, if the sun doesn’t come out one day to charge them, she can still use them that night.

Jubs (a J-life representative from Zimbabwe) was here last weekend.  We picked him up in Johannesburg and decided to make a trip to the Lion Park.  The picture below is really dark, but yes they are petting lions (only in Africa).

Our family has nicknamed South Africa – Seattle.  Everyone here always tells us how bad they need rain, and yet it seems like almost every other day since we have been here it has rained.  Not just an afternoon shower – it has really rained.  But, after a rain storm last week we saw the sun peering in the window, and I told the boys they better go and look for the rainbow.  We found it, and for a while it was a double rainbow.

So very beautiful!!

The house is really coming together.  Rob has been busy putting up ceilings (the main room ceiling will be done this week) and getting things ready for paint.

If we decide to do a wood burning stove, it will go here.

They have half of the house primed and will start the finish painting soon.

Lastly – we would like to include some specific prayer requests.

1. Opportunities for Rob to build lasting relationships with the workers, as almost all of them are non-believers, and for the language barrier with some of them.

2. Direction for our family in regards to helping others.  The needs are so great, and we want to help, but how to know which ones are the ones God is asking us to fulfill.

3.  The right group of Pastors, from the extensions, come together for Rob and John to meet with in a few weeks to discuss discipleship methods.

4. Overall safety – as we aren’t in Kansas anymore.  There is tension in the bigger cities throughout South Africa with refugees coming from all over, looking for work.  Also, business opportunities to help J-life ministries and to be used as a discipleship and training tool.

5.  Walking daily in obedience with Him.

  We are blessed, and thank God each day for His plan for our lives.  Thank you for lifting us up, and joining with us on our journey.